Excerpt: Animal control officials are investigating whether a man committed a crime when he bludgeoned an injured dog with a hammerlike item in an attempt to euthanize the dog after it was hit by cars.

"I had to literally cover my ears and scream to block out the sound," witness Anna Herrera said. "To know what he was doing and have to hear it. I heard the dog screaming loudly."

Lucy, a 2-year-old Weimaraner, had gotten out after Lisa Francis' twins accidentally left open a door. A short time later, the dog was hit by a car on Valley Center Road. Several motorists stopped, including a large man and woman who were traveling together and Valley Center resident Mike Goss.

Goss said on Thursday at his home that the guy was "huge," about 6 feet 5 inches tall, weighed 300 pounds, was very angry and described him as "a guy on a mission."

The guy came up and said, "I've seen things like this before," Goss said. "I know what to do," and then he ordered the three other people...